It can be a lonely and frustrating job, physically and mentally challenging and comes without pay or holidays. Yet one in 10 of us will take on the job of full or part-time carer, looking after elderly, ill or disabled relatives, friends or neighbours. This week St John Ambulance in the Isle of Man is launching Carers Support, a programme of free training designed to help the members of this invisible, but vital, workforce. Carers Support will be run in partnership with the charity Crossroads Caring for Carers, is accredited by the Royal College of Nursing and will be headed by experienced nurse Myrtle Dubost. The aim of the course is to promote and improve the health and wellbeing of carers and provide practical training, support and guidance free of charge to assist them in the care they give. The first training course begins in May and dates/sessions are: 18th May 2011 The carer’s role 25 May 2011 First aid/falls prevention 1st June 2011 Continence/safer handling 15th June 2011 Stress management, memory loss and dementia There are a maximum of 12 places on each four-session course and sessions will be tailored to the needs of those taking part. Those interested in taking part in the first course should contact Myrtle on 674387/412284 or email myrtle.dubost@sja.org.im A drop-in session will also take place at St John Ambulance Headquarters in Glencrutchery Road, Douglas, on Thursday 21 April from 10am to 12 noon for anyone who wants to come along and find out more about the course. Dr Iain Kewley, Commander of St John Ambulance Isle of Man, said: ‘Most carers don’t volunteer for the job and they get no training or support for this demanding role. With this course, St John Ambulance will make a difference in the community by caring for carers, providing them first aid skills, training and helping support them by giving them an opportunity to share their experience with others in similar situations. ‘It is planned to extend Carers Support to include semi-social meetings of the groups so they can continue to get peer support.’ Dr Kewley said: ‘The programme has been running very successfully in the South West of England and St John Ambulance Isle of Man is very pleased to establish it locally.’ He said he was delighted to have someone of the calibre of Myrtle as Nurse Lead for Carers Support. Myrtle trained as an Enrolled Nurse at Noble’s Hospital between 1986 and 1988 and successfully took an Enrolled Nurse conversion course 1995/96, leading to her level 1 Registered Nurse qualification. She has worked in the Health Service on the Isle of Man for more than 20 years, the last 14 with the Community District Nursing Service, during which she thoroughly enjoyed working alongside carers in a home setting. Myrtle is 45 and is married with one grown-up daughter and lives in Douglas. For further information about St John Ambulance Isle of Man or to find out how to sign up for first aid courses or to support its work via donations, please ring 01624 674387 or visit www.sja.org.uk/counties/isleofman - Ends -